Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-21

THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
Pope Loo NIL. In tho History of the Church
His Aims and His Work.
- L

iii Il. BlNttoES - AbDhfSSs
Pope Loo NIL. In tho History of the Church
His Aims aud His Work.
Bishop keauC said:
A study of the career of Pope Leo Mi.
would be Incomplete without some knOwl-
edge OF the events preceding his election TO
the Pontiiical Chair. 1t is necessary 10
look hack 20 the life of bis saiuted prede-
cessor and examine the forces that were at
work during his long and glorious pOntiii-
cate. When Plus y. ascended the papal
throne, two great dangers threatened the
Church, dangers that were the result of the
age, and which required the utmost wisdom
to meet and COuntcraCt.
In the frst place our aye was to be char
acterized by ali astonishing development Of
human energy. Man was to become mon
arch of all tie material universe. No
wonder then that lie should be tempted to
take pride in lis own abilities. No won
der that he should be tempted to look upon
the whole field of supernatural religion rs
a dream. Against that danger Plus lN.
was to raise up q barrier, aud that barrier,
marvellous as it may seem, WAS the aS2er-
tiOn of the imnaculatS conception Of the
Virgin Mary. That declaration w:t the
eternal assertion Of the divinity Of Christ,
1t stands forth as bright beacon light to
warn all men from the dangerous shoals Of
naturalism and intidelty.
THE SECOND DANGER
was to come from the general assertion Of
the idea Of popular rights, so Intoxicating
to the human mind. The close of the
eighteenth century saw the multitudts of
the old world sO infatuated with that
magic word, liberty, as 10 look upon all
authority AZ oppression, the enforcement
of law crime. There were the fanatics,
who recognize no standard Of human law
except the majority of votes, and no stand
and Of right except the prepOnderanCe Of
mems opinions. Against that danger Plus
IN. had TO raise barrier, and that barrier
was the assertion OF Papal infallihility, the
assertion that there was one power, one
authority on earth that man WAS iuCapa-
BILE of changing or modifying An asser
tion that established the Church unmova-
bly, on the broad Christian doctrine that
the foundation Of all authority
is not in man, but in God.
To teach these two great lessons to the
world, and to exemplity them in his own
beautiful like was the task imposed upon
Pins \. Before he died the Church had
entered upon the great transforming pro-
cess of the Nineteenth century. The
Church is the soul OF society. 1t remains
eternally the same. But the body, the
great outside world, is continually putting
on new forms, and the sOul must reflect
them all. The Church must feel and
adapt herself to the world s phases For IT
is her duty Ito he all things to all men,"
The age of Leo MIL records revolution
in the political world. To SUN it up in
short, to-day is the day of democracy, the
day of the fourth estate. The star of ahso-
lutte governments, OF so.Called paternal gov
eInmentS has set forever. The
LAWS or \ NATION
can never again he made, by one man
by few men, unless as the delegates of
the people. 10 these changes the Church
was called upon to conform. To sum it
up in one word, a. Cardinal Manning said ::
"Htherto the Church has had to deal " ith
dynasties, now she must deal with
peoples"
The Church, therefore, has to guarantee
the liberties and rights Of religion, not by
dealing with tickle governments but with
! ha hf, IN h.. har
as their true friend sud her rights as their
own.
Now il comes very natural 10 us to see
things thus. But can we appreciate how
| harl 1t must have been for Leo Nil. TO take
this view when he was called to be the
vicar of Christ on earth? He had been
nurtured in q school opposed directly to
such ideas. But no school Coald bind and
cramP that noble mind. lie had drunk in
the spirit Of his pure and sanity predeCes-
sOr and the fact that he was possessed Oi all
that was good and beautiful in the past,
only fitted him the better to gulde the
Church in the changes and vicissitudes OF
| the future.
On the one side were the adherents OF
Olu, lES hCllNNTlo ~ w ildStlSS SAD.A Wy uslSs
tic support, on the pther Was the fierce
new rapid growth of the age. Opposing
convictions were urged on Leo Mi with
all the vehemence OF partisans. The heat
of the controversy demanded that he speak
and he did speak, and the world stood
still as he spoke. The church was welded
to no dynasty. She was chained 70 no
form of government She had reason to
fear none. 0ut rang the words loud and
clear from the lips OF the sovereign pontiff,
and they will stand forever: as the chur"h's
declaration oil independence.
THE GERMAN CESAR.
In Germany Cesar held his sway. The
sword of persecution was unsheathed
AGAINST the millions of German Catholics.
By the ruler trampling On the Church. was
Leo XIII net when he assumed the
Pontifcal chair. But that wise head
and brave heart by the grace OF
providence, was able to lead the millions OF
German Catholics to a glorious victory.
The despot did his wGrst-aud Jailed. Rut
Leo XIII had another difficulty TO struggle
against. 1t was Cesar trying to cajo!e the
church. l need not say the effort came
from sus!and. With half concealed threats
and bluster she did her bsst to force the
Pope 10 crush down-trodden, long suffering
Ireland. But be resisted, and poor Ireland